Answering Your Questions About Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) on Hog Farms

Change can be scary. At the vary least, it can raise a lot of questions. With the opportunity to implement renewable natural gas projects on some of North Carolina’s hog farms, there have been many questions raised—questions of safety, impact, and simple curiosity.

While most are excited about the opportunity for NC to become a leader in RNG, there are those that have reservations. And so, we wanted to provide answers to some frequently asked questions. Whether you are a skeptic, a sucker for new technology, a community member, a farmer, or a consumer, we hope this answers some of your queries.

FAQ’s

• Do ammonia emissions increase with RNG?

  No. Ammonia levels are dependent on the number of pigs. The size of farms, nor the amount of nitrogen on the farm is changing.

• Does this eliminate the lagoon/sprayfield system?

  No it doesn't. Farmers will still be fertilizing crops with wastewater. However, GHG and other farm emissions will be reduced and treatment and storage capacity will be enhanced. The lagoon/sprayfield system is still highly regulated, designed by university professors, and is non-discharge. Learn more about lagoons and spray fields here.

• Will this decrease odor?

  Covering lagoons will decrease odor as the emissions from the breakdown of manure will be removed from the farm.

• How does this benefit farmers?

  Farmers have long been the adopters of innovation. RNG is the next innovative frontier. RNG allows farmers to add another source of income that mitigates manure management costs, while being better stewards of the environment.

• Does poop go into the pipes?

  No. Biogas is the only thing that will leave the farms.

• Is there a danger of pipes blowing-up?

  The biogas that will be transported through the gathering lines is 30-40% CO2, which is what is in a fire extinguisher. In addition, the pressure in the gathering lines will be very low, less than what is in a car tire. In these conditions, the gas is not explosive.

• Are new lagoons being built?

  No. The only thing being added is digesters.

• I heard that a permit had to be obtained to implement RNG technology on farms. Does that mean new farms are able to be built?

  No new hog farms have been allowed to be built in NC since 1997. RNG does not change this. A modification to current Swine Permits are required to build RNG on existing farms.

• Do RNG permits disproportionately impact minority communities?

  No. DEQ found that the Swine Permit "did not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin on its face, in its implementation, by its impact, or in any other way." In addition, digesters and RNG are good for the environment as described, so any impacts would be positive.

• Why hasn't the location of these RNG project farms been released?

  Simply, they have. You can see a map of these farms here. In addition, farmer’s participation is voluntary. As farmers chose to participate, they will apply for permits, and their choice to participate will be known.

• Why are some opposed to RNG?

  We think there are different reasons for opposing this innovative technology. 1) people may have misconceptions about RNG. We're trying to provide answers and information to put those misconceptions to rest. 2) Sometimes people just want to be critical and would love it if pig farmers didn't exist.

• Do communities support RNG projects?

  Yes! A recent survey showed that residents strongly support RNG programs

Additional Resources:

• The Truth of the Matter: Activist Claims Against RNG Projects are Full of Contradictions

• What is RNG?

• NC poised to be a leader in bioenergy 

"NC Hog Farmers Important" say Activists | Contradict Statement with Actions

“Although we understand that the pork industry is important…”

Words said by activists opposing North Carolina hog farms and their efforts to implement innovations.

They say that they understand that the NC pork industry is important, but do they really?

Do they comprehend what 44,000 jobs looks like?

Do they understand what $10 billion does for the state’s economy?

Do they know that our hog farmers feed 20 million people every year?

Do they realize just how important the pork industry is to NC families and communities?

The same families and communities they are supposedly advocating for and protecting.

Saying “we understand that the pork industry is important,” while suing us, filing legal complaints against us, attacking us, blocking efforts to implement innovative technology, and even effectively causing farms to shut down — saying we’re important while simultaneously scorning us is a backhanded compliment that no one is falling for.

They don’t believe we are important. They only say that to save face and bolster credibility. To them, we are a scourge to this state. We cause egregious injustices, pollute the environment, and are greedy. We are not important. It would be just fine if we were run out of town.

And even if they do mean what they say and understand the positive impacts the pork industry has on North Carolina communities, their actions and words tell a different story.

Here are two examples:

(1) “Although we understand that the pork industry is important, researchers have repeatedly found that pollution from the state’s industrial hog operations disproportionately affect African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans in a pattern that they concluded, ‘is generally recognized as environmental racism.’’’—Robert Moore, president of the Duplin County Branch of the NC Conference of the NAACP.

The research that they refer to is flawed and inaccurate. Hog farms do not disproportionately affect these groups. The pork industry does not impact communities in such a way that is to be considered environmental racism. Whatever importance they see in the pork industry is clearly nullified by their opinion of the affect hog farms incur on certain communities. What’s more, their incessant need to use bogus and negligent research shows they are not interested in truly recognizing the benefits the pork industry offers.

(2)  During the nuisance lawsuits against hog farmers, covered lagoons were highlights as an example of a better, more sustainable option than the current lagoon system. But when the pork industry made efforts to implement covered lagoons that would create renewable energy, the opposition was fierce. Why are these activists trying to stop farmers from implementing sustainable and innovative technology that is good for the community? Because they don’t truly believe the pork industry is important.

Long story, short, when these groups say that the pork industry is important, it rings hollow and untrue. It’s an effort to play the good guy. They don’t believe it, not really.

Farmers are humble, hard-working people who don’t like to shout about our importance. But we know our worth. We just wish these groups did, too.

Heart of the Matter: What is a Family Farm?

Recently, there have been discussions about what a family farm is. The answer seems simple: a farm run by a family. However, because farms don’t always look like they did 50 years ago, there has been some debate and confusion over what a family farm truly is.

We thought it important to address this topic. After all, our name is NC Farm Families. Shouldn’t we be able to provide clarity on who we represent? So here goes:

A family farm is one that has a family behind it.

It doesn’t matter how large the farm is.

It doesn’t matter if the farm is multi-generational or new.

It doesn’t matter if the family extends to farm employees.

It doesn’t matter if the family chose to contract with an integrator or are independently operated.

It doesn’t matter if there isn’t a red barn.

It doesn’t matter how many or what size the tractor is.

It doesn’t matter.

We do not constrain the term family farm to a certain size or type or the color of their barn. None of that matters.

What matters is that at the heart of family farms is a passion for the vocation, a love for family, and the fortitude to do hard work.

So, when we say that 96% of farms in the USA are family owned and operated, this is what we mean. They’re men and women raising families and feeding the world. They come in all shapes and sizes. Whether they have 10 acres or 1,000 or raise pigs indoors or on the ground, these things don’t define a family farm, their heart does.